JUNE CONTENTS1 JUNE CONTENTS Anstey Fair ..... 21 Aspenden Village Fete ..... 21

1

JJJUNEUNEUNE CCCONTENTSONTENTSONTENTS Anstey Fair ................................................................................................................... 21

Aspenden Village Fete ................................................................................................. 21

BALA Minibus Trips & Coffee Morning .......................................................................... 44

BARD – District Council Rejects Wheatley Planning Application ................................. 12

Barkway Village Market ................................................................................................ 45

Bramble Hill Children’s Centre ...................................................................................... 37

Buntingford Civic Society – Have A Voice and Demand Answers! ............................... 10

Buntingford Dancing School / Summer Dance Workshops .................................... 28 / 29

Buntingford Dramatic Society – ‘God of Carnage’ ........................................................ 40

Buntingford Gardeners Club ......................................................................................... 15

Buntingford Scouts ......................................................................................................... 8

Buntingford Social Club ................................................................................................ 38

Buntingford Town Council ............................................................................................. 22

Buntingford Town Football Club ................................................................................... 46

Buntingford WI .............................................................................................................. 45

Bunts Fest Fundraising Music Festival ......................................................................... 48

Cambridge Gliding Centre Open Day ........................................................................... 41

Church Services ........................................................................................................... 16

Cromer Windmill – Replacement of Ladder and Fantail ................................................ 47

Curwens Solicitors – Who Owns Your Home? (Part 2) ................................................ 39

Diary of Events – What’s On & Dates for Your Diary .................................................. 2–5

East Herts Citizens Advice Bureau – Cancelling a Gym Membership .......................... 30

Editor’s Letter ................................................................................................................. 7

Edwinstree Middle School ............................................................................................ 26

Friars Vintage Rally and Country Fayre ........................................................................ 29

Isabel Hospice .............................................................................................................. 31

Introducing Anstey First School .................................................................................... 33

John Ferris and the Arctic Star ..................................................................................... 18

Layston C of E First School ........................................................................................... 32

Letters to the Editor ........................................................................................................ 8

Martin & Mandy – Limecrete ......................................................................................... 24

Millfield First and Nursery School ................................................................................. 34

Muscle Warrior 10K & 5K Runs – The Muscle Help Foundation .................................. 23

NHS 111 Service .......................................................................................................... 11

Oliver Heald MP Surgery .............................................................................................. 11

Open Garden at Little Chishill Manor – with Barry Tyler’s Dixieland Jazz Band ........... 13

The Overtures ................................................................................................................. 5

Peace Child International .............................................................................................. 14

Poetry – Teresa Bonner ........................................................................................ 30 & 37

Royston and District Ramblers ..................................................................................... 35

Royston Town Band – Music in the Garden in Reed .................................................... 20

The Savoy Jazz Band – Jazz in the Garden in Reed ................................................... 21

Tea-time Recital in Furneux Pelham ............................................................................ 20

Useful Local Information ................................................................................................. 6

U3A Buntingford ........................................................................................................... 36

Vyse – You say Emo, I say Emu .................................................................................. 42

2

MONDAYS 10:00 & 10:45am

10:00am – 12 noon

10:30am – 12 noon

1:30pm – 3:00pm

1:30pm – 3:30pm

5:30pm – 6:30pm

6:30pm – 7:30pm

6:30pm – 8:00pm

7:00pm

7:00pm – 8:00pm

7:30pm – 8:15pm

7:30pm – 9:00pm

7:30pm – 9:45pm

8:15pm

TUESDAYS 9:15am – 10:15am 9:30am – 11:00am

10:00am – 11:00am

11:15am – 12:15pm

1:30pm – 2:30pm 3:30pm – 9:00pm

5:30pm – 6:30pm

7:00pm – 8:15pm

7:30pm – 8:30pm

7.30pm

Stretch’n’Grow – 10:00am session for 18 months to 2 yrs; 10:45 for over 2s. At Seth Ward Community Centre. £2 per family. 01763 273008.

Monday Coffee Mornings at St Peter’s Church, Buntingford

Iyengar Yoga Classes at URC Hall – term time only. Contact Jen Harris on 01920 821288.

Stay & Play at Jenyns First School, Braughing. £1 per family. 01763 273008.

Senior Citizens Club at URC Hall, Baldock Road. Bingo and an afternoon of socialising. For more information contact Jeanne Clark on 01763 274631.

Cougars U8 training, Norfolk Road. Darren Wennington 07771 880809.

Cougars U9 training, Norfolk Road. Richard Daly 07944 237400

Shotokan Karate at Seth Ward Community Centre. Contact Peter Deacon on 01462 642922.

Play Bridge for experienced players at Buntingford Bowls Club. £2.50 per session. Contact Eddie on 01763 273640 or 07976 896718.

Pilates at Benson Hall. Contact Jacqui on 01763 274681.

Abs (body toning) session at Fit Together Gym, Buntingford. Contact Al on 07739 131694.

Buntingford Community Choir at Edwinstree School, Bowling Green Lane. No need to read music, no auditions, just bring your enthusiasm!

Buntingford & District Youth Club for young people aged 13–19 years, held at the Technical Institute, Baldock Road. Contact Nick Howell on 07789 92764 or email [email protected].

Circuit Training at Seth Ward Community Centre. Contact 01920 823677.

Badminton at Seth Ward CC, £2.50 per session. 01763 273712.

Tuesday Toddlers at URC Hall, Baldock Road. £1.50 includes drink and snack. Term time.

Under 1s Group at Buntingford Bowls Club. £1 per family. 01763 273008.

Musical Minis at Seth Ward Community Centre. £2 per family. 01763 273008

Musical Minis at Seth Ward Community Centre. £2 per family. 01763 273008

Buntingford Dancing School – Dance classes at Freman College. Contact Philippa on 01763 271010.

Cougars U14 Whites training, Norfolk Road. Jason Rowley 07971 502868.

Grade 5 Ballet Lessons, Layston School. Contact Philippa on 01763 271010.

Cougars U12 training, Norfolk Road. Kevin Ridgewell 07930 192079.

Buntingford Karate Club, Edwinstree School Gym. Bill Hooper 01763 273123.

DDDIARYIARYIARY OFOFOF EEEVENTSVENTSVENTS – JJJUNEUNEUNE 201320132013

3

WEDNESDAYS 9:30 – 11:15am

10:00am – 11:00am

6:00pm – 7:00pm

6:00pm – 7:00pm

6:00pm – 8:00pm

7:00pm – 8:00pm

7:30pm – 8:30pm

7:30pm – 8:15pm

7:30pm

8:00pm

THURSDAYS 9:30am – 11:00am

9:45am – 11:00am

11:00am – 12:00pm

1:00pm – 3:00pm

4:30pm – 6:30pm

5:30pm – 6:30pm

5:30pm – 6:30pm

5:30pm – 10:00pm

6:15pm – 7:00pm

7.30pm

Hormead Baby and Toddler Group at Hormead Village Hall. Term time only. From birth to 4 years. Lots of toys, activities, arts and crafts and singing. £1.50 per child, includes a drink and snack; 50p for additional children. Contact Liz Pickup on 01763 289446, or just turn up.

Story Sacks at Jenyns First School, Braughing. £1 per child. 01763 273008.

Cougars U13 training, Norfolk Road. Martin Stevens 07834 318518.

Circuit Training for 50+ at Seth Ward Community Centre. Contact Rita on 07957 558782.

Shinto Judo Club. Two 1-hour sessions for Juniors: 6:00–7:00pm & 7:00–8.00pm. Now at the Howard Carter Centre, Freman College. Contact Mark Teal 07974 458127 or Gavin Shand 07958 797005. Email: [email protected]. Or visit www.shintojudo.co.uk.

Cougars U14 Blues training, Norfolk Road. Sean Curran 07860 365681

Body Circuit classes at Seth Ward CC. Contact Rita on 07957 558782.

Boxercise/Tae Bo session at Fit Together Gym, Buntingford. Contact Al on 07739 131694.

Slimming World Group at Millfield School, Monks Walk. Contact Gill Hickson on 01279 778055 or 07810 383739, or email at [email protected]

Horizon Divers at Freman Pool. Contact 01920 823955.

Anstey Toddlers at the Old School House, Anstey. Activities for toddlers and babies with their carers. Arts and crafts, free play and singing. £1 per family. Term time only.

Jumping Jacks Stay & Play, Herts County Guide Headquarters, Cottered. £1 per family. 01763 273008.

Fitness for 50+ at Seth Ward Community Centre. £4 per person per class. Contact Eileen Dixon 01763 257474 or 07966 222272, or email: [email protected]

Baby classes run by the Best Start Club at the Scout Hut, Bowling Green Lane. Magical Musical Playdays, for 1 to 3 years olds, start at 1:00pm; followed by Baby Signing classes, for 0 to 16 months, at 2:00pm. Contact Laura Sheriff on 07801 796334. Email: [email protected].

Drama workshops for 15 to 18 year olds with Stagefrights Theatre at Seth Ward Community Centre. Contact Dave on 01438 232181 or email [email protected]

Cougars U6 training at Norfolk Road. Wesley Cook 07968 629406.

Cougars U7 training at Norfolk Road. Darren Fitzgerald 07764 573696.

Buntingford Swimming Club at Ward Freman Pool. Contact Adelaide Boon on 07710 550050.

Jazzercise Class at Seth Ward Community Centre.

Buntingford Karate Club, Edwinstree School Gym. Contact Bill Hooper 01763 273123.

WWWHATHATHAT'''SSS OOONNN

mailto:[email protected]

4

THURS (cont.)

7:45pm – 9:45pm

8:00–10:00pm

FRIDAYS 9:15am

9:30am – 10:30am

9:45am & 11:00am

11:00am – 12:00

3.30pm – 8:00pm

5:00pm – 6:30pm

5:30pm – 8:00pm

6:00pm – 7:30pm

7:00pm – 8:30pm

SATURDAYS 8:30am – 2:45pm

9:15am – 2:00pm

10:00am – 11:30am

2:15pm – 4:15pm

2:00pm – 4:00pm

SUNDAYS 10:30am

MON–FRI

Badminton Club at Seth Ward CC. Contact Liz James on 01763 274010.

Buntingford Dramatic Society, Benson Hall.

WeightWatchers at Benson Hall

Badminton at Seth Ward Community Centre – term time only.

Baby & toddler 'Rhyme Time' at Seth Ward. £1 first child, 50p for additional children to include tea & coffee. Contact Bramble Hill 01763 273008.

Drop-in Breastfeeding Support Group at Bramble Hill Children’s Centre, Mill Close. Led by the health visiting team. 01763 273008.

Buntingford Dancing School – dance classes at Freman College. Contact Philippa on 01763 271010.

Cougars U10 training at Norfolk Road. Andy Ricketts 07941 078069.

Friday Project, Buntingford & District Youth Club for young people aged 13–19. A range of activities, held at the Technical Institute, Baldock Road. Contact Nick Howell on 07789 92764 or email [email protected].

Cougars U11 training at Norfolk Rd. Bobby White 07805 383885.

Cougars U15 Whites training at Norfolk Rd. Mark Watson 07968 872738.

Buntingford Dancing School – dance classes at Freman College and United Reformed Church Hall, Buntingford. Contact Philippa on 01763 271010.

Musical Theatre School for 4–14 year olds at Seth Ward Community Centre. New students needed. Call Anna 07545 788433 or email [email protected].

3rd Sat in the month, Dad’s/Male Carers Group at the Scout Hut, Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford. £1 per child. 01763 273008.

Drama workshops for 6–15 year olds with Stagefrights Theatre at URC Hall, Baldock Road. Telephone Dave on 01438 232181 or email [email protected].

Police Surgery at Buntingford Police Station, Baldock Road.

Each Sunday in May, FREE bowls lessons at Buntingford Bowls Club. Contact Eddie Plume 01763 273640 or John Hicks 01763 272657 9:00am – 5:00pm Buntingford Heritage Centre in the Manor House.

DDDIARYIARYIARY OFOFOF EEEVENTSVENTSVENTS – JJJUNEUNEUNE 201320132013

If you would like to have your event in the Diary of Events pages,If you would like to have your event in the Diary of Events pages,If you would like to have your event in the Diary of Events pages,

please contact please contact please contact Christine NobleChristine NobleChristine Noble 01763 27309501763 27309501763 273095

email: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

5

JUNE 2013 Sun 2nd

Tues 4th

Wed 5th

Fri 7th

Sun 9th

Thurs 13th

Sun 16th

Wed 19th

Fri 21st

Sat 22nd

Wed 26th

Wed 26th

JULY 2013 Sun 14th

Sat 20th & Sun 21st

Sun 21st

10.00am–4.00pm Antiques & Vintage Fair, Barkway Village Hall,

SG8 8BS. Entry £1. Homemade cakes & refreshments. All enquiries Rosei Frost 01763 289748 or email [email protected].

8:00pm Buntingford & District Cage Bird Society at Benson Hall.

7:30pm Buntingford Gardeners Club at URC Hall (see page 15).

5:00–6:30pm Oliver Heald MP Surgery (see page 11).

10.00am–4pm Antiques & Vintage Fair, Cottered Village Hall, SG9 9QW. Entry £1. Enquiries Rosei Frost (see above).

10.00am–4.00pm Open Garden at Little Chishill Manor (see page 13).

7:45pm Buntingford W.I. at URC Hall (see page 45).

4:00pm Furneux Pelham, Tea-time recital (see page 20) 12:30–3:30pm Reed, Royston Town Band (see page 20)

10.30–12:00 noon BALA Coffee Morning, Benson Hall (see page 44).

8:00pm Buntingford Railway & Local History Society at the Crown PH. Jane Tubb – Hertfordshire Pudding Stones.

All day: BUNTS FEST at the Bury (see page 48).

10:00am–4pm Barkway Village Market (see page 45).

1:30 for 2:00pm start, St Richard’s Bingo at Benson Hall.

Buntingford & District Flower Club outing – no meeting.

10:30 at Haileybury , Muscle Warrior 10K & 5K Runs (see page 23). 1:00–5pm Anstey Fair (see page 21).

10:00am–5pm Braughing Friars Vintage Rally & Country Fayre (see page 29).

12:00–4pm Reed, The Savoy Jazz Band (see page 21). 1:00–5pm Aspenden Village Fete.

DDDATESATESATES FORFORFOR YYYOUROUROUR DDDIARYIARYIARY

ARE COMING!

5th

October 2013

at Freman College

Watch this space

for further details

6

UUUSEFULSEFULSEFUL LLLOCALOCALOCAL IIINFORMATIONNFORMATIONNFORMATION

Mondays: Tuesdays: Wednesdays:

10:00am – 4:00pm 10:00am – 1:00pm 10:00am – 1:00pm

Open: Mondays – Fridays Saturday & Sunday

5:00pm – 8:00pm 10:00am – 1:00pm

All enquiries including renewals call 0300 123 4049 Select option 1 (renewals) 03:00–23:45 every day Select option 2 (all other enquiries) Mon–Fri 08:00– 20:00, Sat 09:00– 6:00

Mondays: Tuesdays: Wednesdays: Thursdays: Fridays: Saturdays: Sundays:

09:00 – 18:00 14:00 – 18:00 CLOSED ALL DAY 09:00 – 18:00 14:00 – 18:00 09:00 – 13:00 CLOSED ALL DAY

POLICE STATION: Saturday Police surgeries:

GAS: ELECTRICITY: WATER (Veolia): SEWERAGE (Thames Water):

DOCTORS:

B A S H (Buntingford Action For Social Help):

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RACE, HATE or RAPE CRIME:

LOCAL COUNCIL TELEPHONE NUMBERS: BUNTINGFORD LIBRARY:

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU:

HOUSEHOLD WASTE & RECYCLING SITE:

Baldock Road, Buntingford Non-emergency telephone: 101 Every Saturday, 2:00pm – 4:00pm at Buntingford Police Station

Emergency (gas leaks) – Freephone 0800 111 999 Emergency (power loss) – Freephone 0800 7838 838 Emergency – Freephone 0800 376 5325 Emergency – Telephone 0845 920 0800

The Medical Centre – White Hart Close Telephone 01763 271362 (24 hours) Orchard Surgery – Baldock Road Telephone 01763 272410 & 272411 (after hours)

Providing transport for hospital/doctors appointments, telephone Jane Winter 01763 271484

Confidential Information Help-line: 01992 554440 (in an emergency, dial 999)

East Herts District Council – 01279 655261 Housing – 01279 714714 Benefits – Freephone 0800 373852 Buntingford Town Council – 01763 272222 Hertfordshire Highways – 01438 737320

The Manor House, Market Hill, Buntingford Telephone advice available Monday to Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm on 08444 111 444

Watermill Industrial Estate, Aspenden Road

7

EDITOR’S LETTER

Many thanks to Debbie Lemay for proofreading

This month we have a profile of Buntingford resident John Ferris who recently received the Arctic Star for service on the Arctic convoys during the Second World War. John had received other campaign medals for his war-time service, but along with all the other Royal and Merchant navy veterans of the Arctic missions he had to wait 70 years for recognition of his part in the difficult and extremely dangerous task of taking much-needed supplies to the Soviet Union, Britain’s ally. It is welcome news that these worthy veterans have finally been recognised, but it is also sad that they had to wait so long that many of them are no longer here to receive that recognition.

You’ll find details of several village fetes, fairs and markets this month. We are also well and truly into the Open Garden season, so if you enjoy having a peek into some of the best private gardens around, seize your chance now. Little Chishill Manor will be opening on June 9th, and there are details of several others in the Isabel Hospice listings.

Buntingford Dramatic Society give us a sneak preview of their next offering, ‘The God of Carnage’, which is coming up in September, but it appears they have some strong competition in town. By all accounts, Edwinstree Middle School made a fantastic job of putting on ‘Bugsy Malone’, and you can read all about it on page 26.

It was a dramatic and rather tense evening at East Herts Council offices in Wallfields on 22nd May. Most of Buntingford seemed to have made the journey to hear decisions on not one but three major planning applications affecting Buntingford. The first concerned the Wheatley Homes bid to build 100 houses behind Snells Mead, south of Hare Street Road, which was unanimously rejected by Councillors. Then there was discussion of the Taylor Wimpey appeal against the Council’s rejection of proposals for 160 houses north of Hare Street Road. You can read more on both of these in BARD’s article on pages 14–15. Though the Councillors remained solid in their support of Buntingford’s rejection of both these proposals, the recommendations from Planning Officers were less hopeful. Finally, there was a retrospective vote denying the developers permission for their initial plans at Longmead. All in all a good night for Buntingford, but the planning war is far from over.

Christine Noble

Editorial copy deadline for July/August 2013 Journal is 12.00 noon on Tuesday 18

th June 2013

Copy and diary entries: Christine Noble – 01763 273095 68 Hare Street Road, Buntingford SG9 9HN

email: [email protected]

Advertising enquiries: Keith Edwards – 01763 272032

email: [email protected]

Civic Society Membership enquiries: Chris Eagle email: [email protected]

8

L e t t e r s t o t h e E d i t o rL e t t e r s t o t h e E d i t o rL e t t e r s t o t h e E d i t o r

Dear Editor

I would like to thank all those who voted for me in last month’s elections for the District and County Councils. I was not successful but I remain a town councillor and, as such, am happy to continue to do my best to help any residents with any problems within my remit. I can be contacted on [email protected]

Regards Debbie Lemay

Dear Christine

I would like to thank everyone who voted for me at the Town Council election on May 2nd. Also thank you to all the people who helped me in my campaign.

Regards

John Noades

Editor’s Note: John was successful in winning a seat on the Town Council.

Dear Editor

It is with great sadness that I have to write this letter, but I felt that as a town and community we need to be aware of what is happening and the real impact this has on both individuals and organisations.

On Sunday 14th April I received a phone call regarding what seemed initially to be that somebody had entered our Scout compound on Saturday night, and then had some fun spreading their rubbish around Bowling Green Lane playing fields. However, now we know that this was not the case. For the first time in as long as I can remember and since I have been part of the Scout Group, a mindless, unprovoked and ruthless crime has taken place and our HQ building has been broken into, vandalised and items stolen.

Buntingford Scout Group is a charity, one that provides amazing opportunities for the young people of our town and local area, giving them the chance to experience a wide variety of activities and challenges that many young people would not otherwise have. Countless volunteers give their time every week to offer this. I have been Group Scout Leader since 2002 and have never before been so disappointed. I feel personally a great sadness in what has happened.

As many of you are aware, it took years of fundraising to provide the wonderful resource of our new Scout building, which many people are fortunate to use. Our new building and equipment allows young people to have better learning opportunities, a more varied and exciting programme. The Scout HQ does not accommodate any highly valued items, but the intruders broke into every Section Leader’s cupboard to discover boxes of food, tents, map reading equipment to name but a few items. Tents were stolen and used to light fires. Our fundraising resource of a popcorn machine that was only purchased last year has had its doors smashed. Art equipment was spread over the area and destroyed. Fire extinguishers were set off, trophies that the Sections have earned over the years were smashed and raffle prizes stolen.

As yet the cost of the damage has not been calculated but is estimated to be at least £5,000. Aside from this is the emotional distress and anger this has caused to all of us involved in scouting in Buntingford.


9

What has changed in Buntingford for this kind of crime to happen? It takes event after event to fundraise for every item we have in our Group. If only those people who entered the building had any idea of the time and dedication given by people to provide our resources then maybe this would make them stop and think before they commit their crime. Or are we now living in an area where we have to face the reality that people who are living in, or visiting, our town have a total lack of respect for other people’s property?

This crime was not committed by professionals; we are talking about young people who we would hope have parents who would notice if their child had not returned home at the end of an evening. As Scout Leaders we all volunteer our time to provide what we hope is a worthwhile opportunity for the young people in our community; it is a shame that a small proportion of people seem to have to undermine the work we endeavour to do.

Thank you to the police for their thorough and professional approach, the forensic team made sure all areas were covered. Seven youths have now been arrested and bailed to return to court at the end of May/beginning of June, so we will soon know the outcome. If they are found to be the people responsible, we hope that they can be made to see the consequences of their crime and its affect on so many others.

Yours in Scouting Jo McNamara, Group Scout Leader

Dear Christine

Being a dog owner, I'm becoming a bit fed up with the amount of dog mess being left on public footpaths around the town. One of the worst affected areas which has become unpleasant to walk, not just for me and my wife but for the dog as well, is the public footpath which runs between the fields of alpacas on the way up to Layston Church. Why are some people so inconsiderate? Do they not know that not picking up your dog’s fouling carries a fine of up to 1000 pounds? Please, dog owners, get your act together. Don't blame your dog, blame yourself.

Name and address supplied

Hi Christine

Thank you so much for the article you printed for me in the Journal last month. I loved it –it said everything I wanted it to say and hopefully it will encourage people to come and join my group. Would it be possible to include it every month in the dairy of events? It's Slimming World Group at Millfield School, Monks Walk, on Wednesdays 7.30pm.

Regards, Gill Hickson

Dear Christine,

Cromer Windmill needs a new ladder and fantail, and the Trust which owns it is seeking grant aid which will only be given if there is demonstrable local support for the work. I shall be most grateful if you will publish the attached photograph, letter and questionnaire in the hopes of eliciting such support from the Journal’s distribution area.

Many thanks and best wishes Robin Webb, ‘Pigs Nose’

Hon. Custodian, Cromer Windmill, Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust

Editor’s Note: For readers interested in preserving Cromer Windmill, the material Robin refers to is reproduced on page 47, in the limited space available. If anyone would like to have the ’official’ questionnaire or see the full-size colour photograph, I can forward these by email, or I’m sure Robin would be happy to oblige.

10

Bunt ingfordBunt ingfordBunt ingford Civic SocietyCivic SocietyCivic Society

www.buntingfordcivic.org.uk

Have A Voice – and Demand Answers!

At last we know. Informed sources advise that senior planning officers and our elected representatives have a ‘vision’ for East Herts. That vision is as a ‘dormitory district’! This weak concept (supporting London mainly) may hold good for towns that have well- developed transport systems and, of course, railway stations. But there is no realistic way in which Buntingford could fulfil the demands of being a ‘dormitory town’ on the scale of developments proposed by builders and land owners. The reason is simple: Buntingford lacks a comprehensive bus service and is almost totally private car dependent.

It is time that East Herts produced an interim District Plan and undertakes wide-scale consultation. The excuses for delay are creating situations where developers will exploit the numerous gaps in the National Planning Policy Framework regulations.

Buntingford Civic Society, BARD, the Chamber of Commerce and the Town Council have together developed a clear ‘vision’ and professionally appraised development strategy for Buntingford. East Herts District Council should catch-up!

Derek K Cooper, Chairman

P.S: At the 22nd May Development Control Committee meeting at Wallfields, Mr. Kevin Steptoe informed District Councillors ‘if they [i.e. housing developments] are not in Buntingford they must be somewhere else’. This was said during a discussion on the proposals to develop both north and south of Hare Street Road.

‘Localism’ ignores local opinion

The importance of community involvement in the planning system was put under the spotlight on 13th May at a debate of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies.

Civic Voice President, Griff Rhys Jones, speaking on behalf of communities, said: ‘With the localism agenda, what the Government is essentially saying is, we want you to get involved, decide what you want locally, but oh, for the really important decisions we are going to ignore you and do what we want. I am sorry, but that is just not good enough.’

Planning Minister, Nick Boles MP, who also addressed the meeting, said: ‘When talking about neighbourhood planning in the early days, maybe a fault of the Government was allowing people to believe they could do what they want, when in reality it has always been about how things will be delivered, not what would be delivered.’

Laura Sandys MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies, said: ‘I think as a movement we now need to feedback to the Minister our thoughts on how communities can influence the planning system further.’

Civic Voice is calling on all communities to submit ideas on how communities could have

a greater say in the planning system. Send your ideas to: [email protected]


11

Ol iver Heald QC MP Surgery Friday 7th June 2013 5:00 to 6:30pm

The Manor House, Buntingford, SG9 9AB Or contact: [email protected]

Telephone: 01763 247640 Website: oliverhealdmp.com

How we access health care services in Herts is

changing...

The NHS 111 service was introduced to Hertfordshire in September 2012 and went nationwide across the UK in April 2013. In Hertfordshire this service is provided by Herts Urgent Care, and the aim is to make patient access to local NHS healthcare services simpler and more straightforward.

The NHS 111 service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365

days a year – ALL CALLS from landlines or mobiles are FREE

How does it work?

Calling NHS 111 will put you in contact with a local team of highly trained advisers, supported by experienced clinical staff, all of whom have local health service knowledge.

Detailed questions are asked when you call to assess your symptoms, give you the care advice you need, or direct you to the right local service.

Where possible, the NHS 111 team may book you an appointment with a clinician or transfer you directly to the people you need to speak to.

If NHS 111 advisers think you need an ambulance, one will be sent just as quickly as if you had called 999.

Why should I use it?

111 is a fast & easy way to get the right help for a non-urgent medical concern.

Using NHS 111 will also help to free up 999 and local A&E

services, enabling them to focus on emergency cases.


12

Buntingford

Action for

Responsible

Development

On 22nd May, a packed house at the District Council’s offices at

Wallfields in Hertford saw Councillors debating and voting on two major

housing applications. Here are the scores on the doors for the night:

Buntingford 1 Wheatley Homes 0

Success!

As Journal readers will know, there were fundamental issues with the Wheatley Homes outline planning application to build around 100 houses in the countryside to the east of London Road, with access through Snells Mead – issues around the prematurity of the application before we have a District Plan, around the cumulative impact of premature applications on Buntingford, and around the sustainability of the project given the pressure that already exists on our schools, healthcare services, public transport and roads, all in addition to impact on the countryside.

On the night, one District Councillor after another condemned the outline planning application, with a unanimous vote to reject the application in the face of the Planning Officer’s warnings about 5 year land supply and

‘independent legal advice’.

This is a triumph for common sense over arbitrary number crunching, and

our Councillors should be congratulated for their stance.

Great credit is also due to the residents of Buntingford who have fought for this result for many months, including the crowd who packed into

Wallfields to demonstrate their strength of feeling.

Buntingford 1 Taylor Wimpey 1

At the same meeting on 22nd

May, the Planning Officer was keen for Councillors to abandon some of their fundamental objections to the application to build 160 houses north of Hare Street Road now that Taylor Wimpey have appealed against the decision – first of all on the grounds of the same 5 year land supply calculation as used above for Wheatley Homes, and secondly in light of unofficial contact from Taylor Wimpey suggesting that they have solutions to

District Council rejects Wheatley Homes planning

application!!!

13

the Council’s reasons for refusal on issues such as traffic and road safety. The Councillors recognised that standing down on their decision amounted to paving the way for Taylor Wimpey to steamroll through with little further challenge, so they stood their ground, which we applaud them for.

However, Councillors also opened the door to find out more about the changes that Taylor Wimpey want to make to their planning application. We believe that no changes can overcome objections in principle to the development, but any major changes to the original application would require a new application in any event. And we are concerned that the negotiations that will now be between Taylor Wimpey and the Planning Officers and District Councillors will not be open to public consultation.

Please keep an eye out for updates in the media and on our website.

What is BARD?

Buntingford Action for Responsible Development (BARD) is a grass roots response to

rapid development in the town. BARD members are all residents of Buntingford. We

accept that new developments are important to sustain every thriving town, but we

encourage strict scrutiny on the impact of such developments on the existing residents

and the infrastructure of Buntingford. Further information on BARD and its action on local

developments is posted at www.bard-group.org.uk. Or you can contact us at

[email protected] or phone 07969 835 877.

OPEN GARDEN SUNDAY 9th JUNE 2013 2pm–5pm

AT LITTLE CHISHILL MANOR

Off the B1039 Royston/Saffron Walden road between Barley and Great Chishill

Mature garden in a wooded valley with shrubs,

herbaceous borders, a rose garden and kitchen garden

Homemade Teas, Stalls, Plants and Music from

BARRY TYLER’S DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND

Admission £3.50 / Children free / Guide dogs only

In aid of St Nicholas Church, Little Chishill, and

in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care (Registered Charity No. 207994)

Thank you!

http://www.bard-group.org.uk/

mailto:[email protected]?subject=BARD%20Website%20Enquiry

14

PEACE CHILD INTERNATIONAL Peace Child International continues to flourish at its headquarters at the White House in the High Street. By hosting a variety of international meetings and year-long staff internships, it has brought close to a thousand young people from 50+ countries to enjoy the delights of Buntingford over the last 20 years.

Explaining exactly what PCI does is hard – because it does so many things. This year, we are producing a new version of the Peace Child musical to be performed at the Grande Salle of the United Nations office in Geneva. We are running Employability and enterprise training programmes across East Anglia (including one in Buntingford in July – see below). We are just finishing the excellent ‘Create the Change’ programme for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, where we have been training 13 year olds in Herts and Beds schools to lead workshops to Year 7s on communication skills. We are organising the 1st International Youth Job Creation Summit at the Department of Business Innovations and Skills (BIS) – in partnership with the World Bank, the International Youth Foundation and other international agencies and, of course, many young leaders from around the world.

For the essential thing that PCI does is to ‘empower young people’ – that has been our three-word mission statement, unchanged in 30 years. Lately, some of us add ‘to be the

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH WORK Wednesday 26

th June, The White House, Buntingford – 19.00 to 21.00

Thinking about a Gap Year? Want to get some international exposure before settling down to your career? Want to know more about the international work that goes on behind the calm façade of the White House on the High Street? Then come and hear about the experience of PCI’s founders, and its current crop of young interns – from Argentina, Tanzania, Croatia, Ireland – in a presentation sub-titled: ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy of International Youth Work’. This is your chance to find out everything you ever wanted to know about International Youth Work but were to shy to ask.

Any one interested, please apply to: [email protected]

Sponsored by the British Council

ENTERPRISE YOU! A 2-day training programme on July 30

th & 31

st, 2013

at the White House, Buntingford – 10.00 to 17.00 each day

A Free enterprise / employability training programme devised by eight of Europe’s most effective youth / job training outfits from the UK, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. You will learn the basics of setting up your own business, personal branding, leadership and project management in this pan-European training experience. You will also learn what a social enterprise is – and how to start one.

If you are 16-24 years old, to reserve your free place please apply to:

[email protected]



15

BUNTINGFORD GARDENERS CLUB What a super day I had on Wednesday, 1st May – sorry if yours wasn't so good. Met an old friend (not so much of the old, she would say) for a pub lunch. Caught up with all latest news and family gossip and sat outside in the sunshine. You remember sunshine, don't you? It comes from that bright, hot object that appears in the sky from time to time in this country. The Doom-mongers are saying we are in for a drought. How come, when most people were waist deep in either snow or rain for so many months this year? But back to the plot. My good friend, Myra, bought me a beautiful Daphne plant. The perfume is incredible and we were on our way to BGC for our monthly meeting. What more can a girl ask?

Anyway, the evening was set to continue in positive mode. Our speaker was Jacqueline Avoilet, a Huguenot name for those who are interested in such things, and her subject was ‘Hardy Geraniums’. We were enlightened on the history and classification of the species, how to propagate plants and why Jacqueline became a specialist in hardy geraniums. But it was not just what she told us but how she put it across that made you laugh and laugh! From time to time Jacqueline went off on a different tangent altogether, so we had to reel her in and return her to the topic, but we had a really good time. What a splendid evening and so much fun.

Out next meeting is at 7:30pm on Wednesday 5th June in the URC Hall. The speaker is Sandra Baker on ‘A Plait in History’. Bring along some scissors that evening.

Heather Pope

Club enquiries to Janet Murrells, Chairwoman, 01763 274341

change they want to see in the world’. The heart of what we do comes down to promoting self-reliance – an acceptance that every young person has to make their own way in the world, that no one owes them a living, and that they are never too young to start making a difference in their own life and that of their community. All of PCI’s programmes are led by the young people who stay at the White House – and when David Woollcombe and Rosey Simonds retire later this year, there will hopefully be little change in the variety and energy of those programmes. Because the new CEO is being charged with the same mission to ‘empower young people – to lead, to work, to act, and to make a difference’.

The change may result in PCI moving from Buntingford – or certainly from its White House location, as the building is not owned by the charity. Therefore, we urge anyone in Buntingford who is intrigued by what PCI does behind that big blue door on the High Street, to come and visit – soon! Come along to our Open Day on International Youth Work which we are hosting with the support of the British Council on June 26 th (see left, below). Space is limited so please book early to assure your place.

Nurtured and supported by the kind people of Buntingford, PCI has grown into a global brand in Positive Youth Development. The transition to a green, sustainable economy which many of its programmes seek to promote is still far from the reality it needs to be, but PCI has touched and changed the lives of many young people for the better – so they feel more courageous, more inspired, more empowered. Come and find out how we do it!

16

CHRIST CHURCH

UNITED REFORMED CHURCH BALDOCK ROAD BUNTINGFORD

MINISTER: Rev Duncan Goldie The Manse, Meeting Lane, Melbourn, Cambs SG8 6AN Tel: 01763 260747

MORNING WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY AT 11:00AM

June 2 Morning Worship Dr Jeffrey Barham 9 Holy Communion Rev Duncan Goldie 16 Morning Worship Rev Derek Newton 23 Morning Worship Mrs Rosemary Scarrow 30 Morning Worship Rev Duncan Goldie

July 7 Morning Worship Mrs Maureen Kendall

Christ Church is holding a Bible Study meeting in the Church Hall on the second Wednesday of each month. The format is lunch from 12.30pm (bring your own lunch – tea & coffee will be provided) and the Bible Study will commence at 1.00pm and finish prompt at 2.00pm. The subject will be ‘The Bible in the news’. The idea is that everyone brings a recent newspaper and we will discuss how an article in the newspaper relates to the Bible. Anybody is welcome so bring your friends.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

Junior Church meets at 11:00am every Sunday during term time and welcomes all children and young people.

The Bright Hour – a time for fellowship with prayers, hymns, activities and occasional visiting speakers – next meetings Tuesday 11th and 25th June at 2:30pm in the Church Hall.

Coffee & Company is held in the Church Hall every Thursday from 10:30am for anyone wanting fellowship and time for a chat.

Lunches organised by Christian Aid are held in the Church Hall from 12:30 to 2:00pm on the first Friday of the month.

Visit our website at www.buntingfordurc.freeserve.co.uk

St . Peter ’s – Bunt ingford

Monday Coffee Mornings

10am to 12noon

(closed on Bank Holidays)

We look forward to seeing you

17

ST. RICHARD OF CHICHESTER Catholic Church 3 Station Road, Buntingford Telephone 01763 271471

HOLY MASS is celebrated each Sunday at 9:30am Holy Days at 10:00am and 8:00pm Weekdays at 9:15pm Saturdays at 6:00pm at Furneux Pelham & 6:00pm at Puckeridge

CONFESSIONS are each Saturday from 11:00am–12:00 noon

Uni ted Benef ice ofUni ted Benef ice ofUni ted Benef ice of St. Mary ' s – Aspenden

St . Peter ' s – Bunt ingford

St . Mary the V i rg in – Westmi l l

Church of England

Reverend Ian Hill – Telephone 01763 274072

There is a full and varied pattern of worship across the three churches: St. Peter’s

in Buntingford has a more contemporary style; St. Mary’s in Aspenden has a more

traditional style; St. Mary the Virgin in Westmill has a more liturgical style.

Everyone is welcome at any of our churches.

Services for June 2013

Sun 2nd 9:30am St. Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 10:00am St. Mary’s, Aspenden Family Service 11:00am St. Peter’s, Buntingford Holy Communion

Sun 9th 9:30am St. Mary’s, Aspenden Holy Communion 11:00am St. Peter’s, Buntingford Family Worship

Sun 16th 9:30am St. Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 11:00am St. Peter’s, Buntingford Holy Communion

Sun 23rd 9:30am St. Mary the Virgin, Westmill Morning Worship 9:30am St. Mary’s, Aspenden Holy Communion 11:00am St. Peter’s, Buntingford Family Worship

Sun 30th 9:30am St. Mary the Virgin, Westmill Sung Eucharist 11:00am St. Peter’s, Buntingford Family Worship

18

John Ferris and the Arctic Star A Buntingford resident and veteran of the Second World War has finally been given recognition, 70 years after the event, for his part in protecting supply convoys to Russia through the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans. John William Ferris has just been awarded the Arctic Star.

John was born into a naval family in Dawlish, Devon, on 6th November 1920. Both his father and grandfather served in the Royal Navy, as would his older brother. After leaving school he joined a firm of boat builders making racing yachts, lifeboats and motor cruisers. He sat his exams for the Royal Navy in November 1938 and joined the Navy in January 1939.

After technical training at Chatham he returned to Plymouth to join his first ship, HMS Newcastle, a cruiser built around 1937, with patrolling duties around the English coast. She put in for a refit in August 1939 in preparation for a commission in China, but when war was declared on September 3rd the Newcastle was directed north to Scapa Flow to patrol the heavy seas of the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland. They sank a German blockade-runner in the Strait and pursued two warships which they eventually lost sight of in a blizzard. The Newcastle was damaged by the heavy seas and had to return for another refit in 1940. She then stood by in Plymouth Sound ready for the threatened invasion, carrying out night bombardments of German installations on the French coast.

Later that year, John left the Newcastle and went to Devonport Barracks in Plymouth, where he was reunited with his older brother who had just returned from duties in China. They contacted their father and all went home for a celebration. John was then shore-based until, in 1941, he joined a fleet minesweeper, HMS Salamander, as petty officer. The vessel was a small, 1000-ton ship with a crew of about 100 (ironically, while he was on a minesweeper his brother was on a fast minelayer!). Straightaway the ship joined the escort forces for the Russia-bound convoys in the North Atlantic.

With little air cover, they had to contend with attacks from aircraft and U-boats, as well as the harsh Arctic weather. On 4th July 1942, news of a significant force of enemy warships (perhaps including the Tirpitz) called the covering force of destroyers and cruisers away. The convoy was left to proceed as best it could and 24 of the 31 merchant ships were lost in enemy attacks. On the final leg before reaching the White Sea, they were bombed again while making their way through the pack ice. Stuck in the port of Archangel, they were running short of food until the Russians supplied them with black bread and elk meat. John’s ship was one of the few survivors and 50 years later he was awarded a Russian commemorative medal in recognition of his part in this very dangerous mission.

Later in the war John spent a short time on the same vessel in the Mediterranean before coming back to base duties in the UK. In 1944 he sailed to the Far East to join a naval

John Ferris in Royal Navy uniform, photographed on leave in 1943

19

party in Chittagong, then patrolled the Burma coast as part of a Mobile Naval Base Organisation. He was in Akyab (now Sittwe) on V.E. Day and had a week’s leave in Kandy in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He spent 6 months in Calcutta then another 6 months in Bombay, before coming home to his parents’ house in Teignmouth in the middle of 1946.

Between 1948 and 1950 John served as a petty officer on the cruiser HMS Nigeria, based at Simonstown in South Africa. He met Joyce Pinnock in Cape Town and they married in 1950, but then he had to return to the UK leaving Joyce living with her widowed mother. In 1951 John put his name forward as a replacement for the chief petty officer on the cruiser HMS Bermuda so he could sail back to Cape Town to be reunited with his family – Joyce gave birth to their eldest daughter, Geraldine, that same year. In 1953 John was offered the job of warrant officer (supplies) at the South African Nautical College at Gordon’s Bay, a lovely spot 30 miles from Cape Town. Their second daughter, Pamela, was born there in 1954.

Just when John was thinking of moving on, he was asked to join the team working on the construction of the Kariba Dam on the River Zambesi in what was then Rhodesia. Initially, he slept in a tent on Sugar Loaf Hill, but in the next few months a township was created with shops, country club, swimming pool and so on. In February 1957 his family moved up to join him. Work on the dam was completed in 1960 when it was opened by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. John was among those at the opening ceremony.

During the insurgency in Rhodesia John joined the Field Police Reserve, and both he and Joyce carried guns. There was occasional shelling from over the border in Zambia, and the hill behind their church was hit. In 1978 the family moved to Salisbury (now Harare, capital of Zimbabwe) and John spent much of his time travelling the country visiting transmission sub-stations. He says that it was obvious how things were going to turn out.

In 1983 the family left Africa, initially for Australia but then back to the UK. Looking for somewhere to settle they hit upon Buntingford, saw the houses then being built in Downhall Ley, and moved in in April 1984. Sadly Joyce passed away about 3 ½ years ago. Both their daughters live in Australia.

John is President of the local British Legion branch and invites anyone, ladies or men, to join them. He emphasises that it is not necessary to have served in the armed forces. If anyone is interested please contact Di Bamford on 01763 848481 for information.

John Makin

Thanks to Val Hume for allowing us to refer to, and to quote from, her profile of John Ferris published in 2000.

John at the site of the Kariba Dam

John on Christmas Day 2007

20

MUSIC IN THE GARDEN at Queenbury, Church Lane, Reed

on Sunday 16th

June 2013

Royston Town Band 12.30–3.30pm with excellent buffet lunch

Adults £12, children half-price, or £30 for a family

Ring Lucinda on 01763 848 353

In aid of Reed Village Hall

Numbers will be limited, so book early to reserve your place.

ST MARY THE VIRGIN, FURNEUX PELHAM

Tea-time Recital Sunday 16

th June at 4.00pm

FELICITY CORRIE – cello

MARK FIELDING – piano

Debussy – sonata

Schumann – 5 pieces in Folk-style

Josef Suk – Serenade Op.3

Tickets: £5 adults, under-16s FREE, in advance or on the door.

REFRESHMENTS available from 3.30pm

Contact: 01763 272111 [email protected]

01279 771691 [email protected]

If you would like to advertise your event in the Buntingford JournalIf you would like to advertise your event in the Buntingford JournalIf you would like to advertise your event in the Buntingford Journal

please contact please contact please contact Christine NobleChristine NobleChristine Noble on 01763 273095on 01763 273095on 01763 273095

email: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

21

Anstey Fair

Sunday 14th July 2013 at 1– 5pm

There is no better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon than to visit this

Traditional Country Fair, full of entertainment and fun for all the family.

Adults £1 / Children under 16 free / Free car parking.

There is something for everyone, whatever your age, including:

Interesting stalls A wide variety of activities and games

Bar BBQ Teas Cakes Local produce

Books Raffle Fabulous live music And much more

At Anstey Bury, Anstey, near Buntingford, SG9 0DF

For more details visit our website: www.ansteyfair.org

All proceeds towards Anstey Church, Anstey Village Hall and Anstey First School

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN at North Farm, Crow Lane, Reed, SG8 8AE

on Sunday 21st

July 2013

The Savoy Jazz Band 12.00noon – 4.00pm

Tickets £15, includes a Buffet Lunch

Contact Di Bamford on 01763 848481 Please book early to account for food All proceeds to Reed Church

ASPENDEN VILLAGE FETE Will be held this year on Sunday 21st July, from 1– 5pm

More details to follow next month

22

BBBUNTINGFORDUNTINGFORDUNTINGFORD TTTOWNOWNOWN CCCOUNCILOUNCILOUNCIL

A QUALITY TOWN COUNCIL

Following the elections on 2nd May, we would like to welcome Graham Waite and Rod Coleman onto the Council and re-welcome John Noades, who has previously served as a Town Councillor and was Town Mayor for two years. We would also like to welcome Jeff Jones as the new Ward Councillor who will be serving alongside Stan Bull representing Buntingford at District Council level.

Everyone will be aware of the speculative planning applications that have been submitted over the past months. By the time this article is printed the District Council Development Management Committee will have reached a decision on the proposed 100 dwellings behind Snells Mead and whether or not to pursue the case on the basis of reasons for refusal of the proposed development of 160 houses to the North of Hare Street Road. This is a crucial meeting for Buntingford and we await the decisions with trepidation.

Not wishing to repeat what’s been printed so many times, but until the District Plan is published developers will continue to submit planning applications for development on land that is designated as Rural Area Beyond the Green Belt. East Herts Council claim that the reason for the delay is that they are waiting for results of technical studies from Herts County Council. The Town Council has written to HCC and urged them to expedite these studies. In the meantime the Town Council, in partnership with the Civic Society, BARD and the Chamber of Commerce, are undertaking our own technical studies in preparation for the consultation on the District Plan. We have also employed a professional planning consultant to help us with any responses we have to make.

Jill Jones MILCM Cert HE Town Clerk

Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00am–5:00pm; closed Fridays

Tel : 01763 272222

Email: [email protected] Website: www.buntingfordtowncouncil.co.uk

Twitter: @buntingfordtc

Town Council meetings for June 2013

Thurs 6th June

Thurs 13th June

Thurs 27th June

7:30pm – Amenities Committee

7:30pm – Planning Committee 8:00pm – Resources Committee

7:30pm – Planning Committee 8:00pm – Full Council

All meetings will be held at The Manor House unless indicated otherwise. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

It is occasionally necessary to change the time for Planning meetings to 7:00pm – please check the notice board or website for updates.

23

The Buntingford Journal is delivered FREE to members of the

Civic Society or it can be purchased from:

A CUT ABOVE BASRA’S SUPERMARKET THE CO-OP

COUNTRY FLOWERS DELISSIMO FLUTTERBY'S

HARE STREET SHOP & FILLING STATION

MARK DOEL PIGGOTTS THE FOX AT ASPENDEN

RUN FOR THEIR LIVES MUSCLE WARRIOR

10K RUN & 5K RUN

IN THE BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS OF HAILEYBURY SCHOOL, HERTFORD HEATH SUNDAY 14 JULY at 10:30

Become a MUSCLE WARRIOR and help raise funds for MUSCLE DREAMS … Amazing experiences in the UK for children with Muscular Dystrophy

10K RUN & 5K RUN – both races start at 10:30am

1K WHEELCHAIR CIRCUIT

1K FAMILY TODDLE (Muscle Warrior Superhero costumes please!)

This is a great course for regular race-goers and the 5K is a perfect introduction to running without a crowded field. The Wheelchair Race and Family Toddle follow the main races – bring the whole family for some fun!

EVERYONE CAN TAKE PART!

REGISTER NOW AT MUSCLEHELP.COM Registration fees apply

RUN FOR THEIR LIVES is in aid of THE MUSCLE HELP FOUNDATION

Registered Charity No. 1096716

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://musclehelp.com/event/run-their-lives

OR CONTACT: [email protected] Tel: 01438 861715 or 07932 784880

www.musclehelp.com

http://musclehelp.com/event/run-their-lives


http://www.musclehelp.com/

24

LimecreteLimecrete Martin & Mandy – Part 40

We know where the Yorkstone floor is coming from, now we just need something to put it on, and I don’t fancy any more concrete this week. Mainly because it does not really breathe and allow movement, and the whole building breathes and moves – so a limecrete floor is what we need.

Enter Myles stage left, with a selection of wild pieces of equipment. Peter and his chaps have already got all the plumbing and pipework laid in the nave and incredibly there’s 250 metres of it. The steel frame for the kitchen is all in place and we basically have a hole across all of the Nave.

The first thing we need to put down is a 180mm layer of insulation; this looks like volcanic rock, it’s pieces the size of golf balls which are very light. It’s also a rather good insulator so that’s a great start. This all gets tamped down really delicately until it’s level and lightly compressed, so it will then provide a firm base for the limecrete. Then there is a white plastic expansion material that’s put around the outside of the space the slab is going to be laid in, and also around the services that come up through the slab. Finally, it’s eco-friendly because it’s reclaimed – trouble is, everybody forgets to tell you how much electricity is used to produce it which makes it not very green at all. Hey ho, we tried!

Then you get a large 6x6 off-road truck and chop the back axle off it to make it short and stubby so it’s able to get anywhere, buy an American grout mixing plant for spraying

concrete onto walls and mount that on the back of it, then fill the hopper on top with a lime-based aggregate and a vast quantity of lime, pour water in and let the wild mixing thing on the back of it carefully mix vast amounts of limecrete, and have three blokes on standby with barrows to lay it in the Nave – easy really if you say it quick. It’s all a little bit like mixing concrete but the proportions and the timing is vastly more critical. For example, I’ve

Reclaimed glass insulation

Mad limecrete mixing machine

25

never really been interested in the exact temperature but my phone now has a weather app on it to tell me the temperature in Buntingford for the next 10 days – all this has to happen when there’s no frost around so the limecrete can set without freezing which

would make it crack and we would need to start again.

So now we have a 150mm thick layer of limecrete on top of the eco-friendly (not) glass foundation – now you leave it alone for a week to set before the next stage, which is under-floor heating (UFH) pipes. There is a manifold hidden under the small stub staircase – this basically has seven loops of pipe attached to it and the heating system pumps hot water from the main boiler room around the system. The pipework is laid out across the floor and winds backwards and forwards across the areas that

we will walk on – no point putting it under the kitchen units, for example. Once the UFH pipe is in we can then lay the next 70mm screed to cover it all up. Again this is a limecrete mix, but a different mix ratio to the main slab. The mad machine, plus Myles and his mates, turn up again and in another day the screed is finished and we need to leave the floor for yet another week to dry out. It’s no wonder this kind of process is not really used on large builds with all the waiting that’s involved.

It’s also an interesting game getting the different layers to bond with one another – you have to leave the limcrete slab to dry out, but then the first thing you do before laying the screed is to pour loads of water onto it so that it does not suck all the water out of the screed as it’s laid. Once it’s all properly dried, which I suspect will be a month or so’s time, we can get the Yorkstone shipped down from Comedy Dave’s mate Spider Steve. We will then add a 20mm layer of lime mortar on top of the screed and then 50mm stone slabs on top of that. A spot of pointing and we will have a finished floor.

For more history and information related to St Bartholomew's, visit:

www.layston-church.org.uk

UFH pipe and top screed

Leveling out the screed

26

Edwinstree Middle School

Edwinstree put on a magnificent production of Alan Parker’s Bugsy Malone in May, performing to appreciative audiences over two nights. Millfield and Layston schools also watched the show, thoroughly enjoying the ‘splurging’ scenes. Everyone at school made a contribution to the production – pupils, staff, parents, grandparents and governors. The after-school rehearsals, the hard work of learning lines, practising dance steps and memorising songs came to fruition in a tremendous show. The costumes were colourful, the splurge guns fantastic, the cars made by a member of staff were a work of art.

We held a raffle with authentic American goodies in a violin case as first prize. Refreshments for the evening consisted of Bugsy’s Moonshine, Tallulah’s Tonic Water, Fat Sam’s Sarsparilla, together with pretzels and doughnuts. The whole cast were amazing and they all had the wonderful experience of putting on a spectacular show.

We are again taking part in the Rib Valley Book Award, run by Freman College together with Ralph Sadleir School. Twenty members of Year 8 are currently reading selected books, and they will choose their favourite to win the award. One of the books is 15 Days Without a Head by Dave Cousins and pupils were recently invited to a presentation by the author at Freman. He gave a talk telling of his boyhood ambition to be Batman, then being in a band, before finally finding success as a writer.

Anthony Glenn came into school and gave his inspiring one-man show Shaking Up Shakespeare to Year 7 with his performance of Romeo and Juliet. Pupils had the opportunity to join in and act the scenes that they have been studying in class.

Above & below: four images of Edwinstree’s spectacular

production of Bugsy Malone

27

Year 8 pupils Ben, Ewan, Joe and Simon took part in the regional finals of the UK Mathematics Trust competition at Cambridge University, coming a very creditable 11th out of the 30 schools taking part.

Looking ahead, Year 7 are visiting Boulogne to use their French language skills and Year 5 are going to Kew Gardens to enhance their Tudor studies. We look forward to welcoming our new Year 5s on transition day on July 11th. Sports Day this year will be on Monday 22nd July, weather permitting!

We are also planning our Year 8 Celebration Evening, when we wish our eldest students good luck as they leave us and go on to further education.

Diane George

Some of the Year 8 pupils taking part in the Rib Valley Book Award, with author Dave Cousins

28

Buntingford Dancing School It’s been some time since we had an article in the Journal, so there is quite a lot to report.

Luton Dance Festival March 2013: We saw some fantastic performances from Chloe Hatton, Sienna Smith, Elyse Brogden, Holly McPartland, Kelsey Mitchell and Josie McMeechan.

Watford Dance Festival April 2013: Again, the children danced very well. Medals were awarded to Chloe Hatton 2nd Place National Solo, Holly McPartland 2nd Place Character Solo, Sienna Smith 3rd Place Character Solo and Josie McMeechan 3rd Place Tap Solo.

Josie, Holly and Sienna are looking forward to representing us at the All England Dance Competition semi-finals taking place in May.

Move It 2013: Some of the senior dancers attended the ‘Move It’ Dance Exhibition at Olympia for a full day out. It really is dance

heaven with classes, dance displays, clothing stalls and stands from dance colleges across the UK providing information on dance and performing careers. The girls came away very inspired by what dancers are doing all over the country – they even got to meet Darcy Bussell! I think it’s a very valuable and informative day out for any dancer or performer

Sudbury Festival of Performing Arts – Annual Concert: Josie McMeechan was one of only 20 performers selected from more than 200 during a weekend of Music, Dance and Singing Competitions at Sudbury to perform in their Annual Festival Concert on Sunday 17th March, 2013. Her Tap Solo went down extremely well with the audience who congratulated her on her performance.

Peter Pan – Gordon Craig Theatre: We were delighted that three of our pupils were selected at audition to play main parts in Peter Pan. Henry and Jasper Eaglesfield were given the parts of the brothers John and Michael, and Kelsey Mitchell was cast as Slightly, a Lost

Chloe Hatton displays her dance costume and 2nd Place National Solo medal won

at the Watford Dance Festival

Henry and Jasper Eaglesfield in character for Peter Pan

29

Boy. They learnt an incredible amount of lines in just a few days, and Henry and Jasper even learnt to fly! They performed from Wednesday 10th to Sunday 14th April and all had a wonderful time and experience, including those that went to watch them.

Summer Course: The summer holidays will soon be upon us and we will, as usual, be running a series of dance and performance workshops over the summer break (see below). To register interest in these (you do not need to be attending normal dance classes with us) please email me or ring for information.

Julie McPartland, Vice-Principal, Buntingford Dancing School

Summer Dance Workshops

led by Julie McPartland and Christina Hadjisavvas

On 25th, 26th, 29th and 30th July 2013

At Freman College 10am-3pm

For more information, ring 07971 699615 or email:

[email protected]

FRIARS VINTAGE RALLY FRIARS VINTAGE RALLY ANDAND

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st July 2013

From 10.00am to 5.00pm

Braughing Heritage with Tractors and Exhibits that worked in Braughing

and surrounding areas before and throughout World War II and after.

CARS HEAVY HORSES (if available) COMMERCIALS BARN ENGINES

TRACTORS MOTORCYCLES

CRAFT STALLS

At BRAUGHING FRIARS (off B1368) SG11 2NS

ADMISSION: Adults £2.50 Children Free

CONTACT: T. JOHNSON Tel: 07973 976995


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EAST HERTS CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU The Manor House, Buntingford

Drop-in: Telephone:

Monday 10:00am – 4:00pm 08444 111 444

Tuesday 10:00am – 1:00pm Monday – Friday

Wednesday 10:00am – 1:00pm 10:00am – 4:00pm

Cancelling a Gym Membership I’ve joined a gym as part of a New Year’s resolution to get fit but I’m

thinking about cancelling my membership. How easy will it be to do this?

Gyms often play on people’s new year resolve to be more active and offer enticing deals, but you can find yourself tied into a long-term contract without realising it unless you study the small print very carefully before signing up for anything.

A membership contract with a gym will normally have details about when and how you can cancel and what the charges will be. Usually you will still have to pay fees for the lifetime of the contract (or some sort of cancellation fee) if you decide to cancel early, even if your circumstances have changed.

If you do decide to cancel a gym membership, make sure you do it in writing and keep a copy of the letter. It may also be sensible to send the letter by recorded delivery so you have proof of when you sent it and can find out whether the gym received it or not.

There are instances when it is possible to cancel a gym contract early without penalty or even get a refund. This could apply if the contract terms specifically allow you to cancel in certain circumstances, such as at the end of an introductory rate. You can also cancel early without penalty or charge if the contract terms are deemed unfair. A contract could be seen as unfair if, for example, it is automatically renewed without your permission or the terms are unclear. It is also easier to cancel a gym contract without having to pay a penalty, or even get a refund, if it sets a minimum contract term longer than one year.

For more information, see www.adviceguide.org.uk or call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.

© Copyright Citizens Advice. For the most up-to-date version, please visit their

Adviceguide website at www.adviceguide.org.uk

Horrible Harry There’s a thief in our garden dressed in grey and white. He comes to visit in the day – never at night. He’s got skinny legs and his favourite food is fish. The trouble is it’s our gold fish that he’s putting in his dish!!! Oh Harry Heron, please fly away! I'm sure you're very nice, but go and eat some mice!!!

Teresa Bonner

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk

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FUND-RAISING EVENTS FOR 2013

Isabel Hospice Chain Walk – 15th September – Walk leaders needed These Sunday morning walks (17 to choose from) are popular fundraisers and we are looking for keen walkers who would be willing to lead a walk. Group sizes vary, as do the distances, with a stop for a pub lunch. Please call Maria Alexander on 01707 382500.

Isabel Hospice care4acuppa is launched in June and runs through to Christmas. With over 165 million cups of tea and 70 million cups of coffee drunk every day, why not put yours to work in support of Isabel Hospice by holding a fundraising tea party or coffee morning with a bake sale, a raffle, or bring & buy. Call Maria on 01707 382500.

1st June – JUMBLE SALE at Thundridge Village Hall

2.30pm. 20p entry. Come and grab some bargains. Contact details 01920 462992.

6th June – FIRST THURSDAY NETWORKING EVENT in Hertford

At LUSSMANNS, 42 Fore Street, SG14 1BY, in association with Marketing Kinetics and Lussmanns for companies from all over Herts & Essex. Cost £15. Or why not sponsor a 1st Thursday? £100 sponsorship includes website promotion, email invites, literature & banners and a 10-minute presentation. Contact Emma Lippiatt on 01707 382547.

9th June – HERTS & SOUL CONCERT at The Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford

Organised by Mayor of Bishop’s Stortford, Cllr Janice Elliott, with guest singers The Herts and Soul Choir, along with a selection of primary schools. This will be supporting Isabel Hospice and two other charities. Call Renee Friend for details 01279 755320.

9th

June – VILLAGE WALK around Furneux Pelham

An enjoyable walk starting at The Brewery Tap and followed by a hog roast in the pub garden. For information and a sponsorship form contact Mary Gethin on 01279 777610.

11th June – COFFEE MORNING at Markwell Pavilion, Bishop’s Stortford

Our coffee mornings are on the second Tuesday of the month. Enquiries 01279 755320

16th June – TEAS IN GARDENS at Bromley Hall, Standon, SG11 1NY

Open to the public as part of the NGS, over 4 acres of traditional and modern gardens around a 16th century farmhouse. For information call Renee Friend on 01279 755320

20th June – THIRD THURSDAY NETWORKING LUNCH in Bishop’s Stortford

At Grill 55, 55 South Street, CM23 3AL. Contact Emma Lippiatt on 01707 382547

30th June – SOMETHING DIFFERENT! at Epping Green, nr Hertford

Michaels Folly, Henderson Place, will be open as part of the NGS. An atmospheric naturalistic garden and organic kitchen garden, with yoga, dance, goats and a Mongolian Yurt where tea will be served.

30th June – TEAS IN GARDENS at Mackeyre End House, Harpenden AL5 5DR

Open to the public as part of the NGS,15 acres of formal gardens, parkland and woodland, with a Victorian walled garden, kitchen garden, lily pond and pergola walk of old English roses. For information call Renee Friend on 01279 755320.

www.isabelhospice.org.uk

32

LAYSTON C OF E FIRST SCHOOL www.layston.herts.sch.uk

On a cool, windy May day the children created their own sunshine by jetting off to far flung destinations: Japan, India, North America, Italy and Africa on our International Day. They enjoyed a variety of activities including Indian dancing, food tasting and origami. Year 2 made the experience all the more real by ‘role playing’ a flight to Ghana

Members of our PTA and our Eco Warriors worked very hard on a hot morning to plant new trees on the field. These trees will provide extra interest for playtimes and extra shade in the summer time. We have also planted a

special ‘royal’ oak grown from an acorn from the Windsor estate. This was bought by the PTA to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. We are very lucky to have such an active PTA at Layston and we are very grateful for all their hard work and for all the money that they raise for us.

As usual, all our Key Stage 1 and 2 children enjoyed walking up to Edwinstree to take part in a Cross Country Festival. Everyone did their best and earned a certificate. Our winners (right) were proud to bring home a special medal to remember the day by.

If you would like to find out more about our school, please take a look at our website or phone us on 01763 271235 to arrange a visit.

Gill Langley, Headteacher

Images from Layston’s International Day: Indian dancing (above), food tasting (right)

and origami (below).

Layston pupils at the Cross Country Festival at Edwinstree School

http://www.layston.herts.sch.uk/

33

Introducing Anstey First School www.anstey.herts.sch.uk

For those readers who may not be aware of us, Anstey First School is a very small school in a wonderful setting with our own preschool, community centre and holiday play scheme. We are part of the ‘pyramid scheme’ for Buntingford, which means that our pupils go on to attend Edwinstree Middle School, and eventually Freman College.

Our school environment is breathtaking, with more green open space per child than any other school in Hertfordshire! Our last school inspection confirmed that children thrive at Anstey and make really good progress in their learning, whatever their starting points. We offer children and parents some unique opportunities that include learning Spanish from Reception class onwards and a large range of after-school clubs. Our Creative Curriculum taps into children’s enthusiasm for learning as a consequence

Our size allows us to plan many more outside visits than is normally possible for most schools. We have recently been to the Cambridge Folk Museum and Stansted Airport, for example, and have a busy summer term of events lined up. The children will soon be taking care of our own chickens with the opportunity to sell eggs to the local community.

Anstey has a very special relationship with parents and the local community and together we create an exhilarating environment that continuously stimulates and challenges. Our class sizes are small and this allows us to provide a personalised approach to each child’s interests and needs. We give a warm welcome to all visitors at Anstey, so if you would like to arrange to look around the school and meet our friendly team, please

contact us on 01763 848346 or by email at [email protected]

Paul Larkey, Headteacher

34

Millfield First and Nursery School

www.millfield.herts.sch.uk With the arrival of warmer weather all the children have been enjoying our beautiful school grounds at playtimes. Our pond is full of tadpoles and the trees are covered in blossom! The Reception and Nursery children are having fun in their outdoor areas playing with a range of activities.

Key Stage 2 are enjoying weekly cricket coaching with the ‘Chance to Shine’ team. They will also start coaching sessions in Tri-Golf this month. All of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are taking part in the Cross Country Festival with other local schools at Edwinstree.

On 9th May as part of their topic ‘Out of this World’, KS2 enjoyed a visit from the ‘Space Dome’ set up in the School Hall. Inside the dome they had a unique chance to find out more about our universe. They also had fun decorating cakes as Space Aliens (right).

On Tuesday 23rd April, Year 4 went to Freman College to meet the author, Philip Ardagh (right). They all enjoyed a very entertaining talk and were able to buy a signed copy of his

Some of our Reception children having fun outdoors (above), meeting author Philip Ardagh (below) and the Space Dome and Space Alien cakes (right).

http://www.millfield.herts.sch.uk/

35

Royston and Distr ic t Ramblers Group

Walks for JUNE 2013

Sun 2nd Coach outing to Aldeburgh, 9 miles, led by Tricia 01438 880553

Mon 3rd Evening walk, Wallington, 3.5 miles, led by Christine 01462 734298

Tues 4th Orwell, 6 miles, led by Ian 01223 872243

Thurs 6th Meldreth, 6 miles, led by Rama 01763 260565

Sun 9th Bassingbourn, 9 miles, led by Margaret 01763 256788

Tues 11th Caxton, 6.5 miles, led by Alan 01223 835908

Thurs 13th

Harston, 6 miles, led by Marion 01223 871524

Thurs 13th Evening walk, 3 miles + Anniversary Celebration, numbers limited, led by David 01763 242677

Sun 16th Cambourne, Dry Drayton, 12 miles, led by Alan 01223 835908

Tues 18th Langley Lower Green, 5 miles, led by Eric 01763 848576

Wed 19th Evening walk, Barley, 4 miles, led by Lesley 07734 111225

Thurs 20th Eltisley, 6 miles, led by John and Hilary 01223 871244

Sun 23rd Colliers End, 11 miles, led by Tricia 01438 880553

Tues 25th Weston, 6 miles, led by Ed 01438 226590

Thurs 27th Newsells, Barley, 5 miles, led by Lesley 01763 246512

Thurs 27th Evening walk, Shepreth, 3 miles, followed by optional supper £6 (if pre-booked) led by Rama 01763 260565

Sun 30th Royston, Abington Piggotts, 11 miles, limited number of places for lunch at PH, led by Anca 01763 250497

Unless otherwise stated, Tuesday & Thursday are morning walks, Sunday walks are all day.

For meeting points and starting times, contact the walk leader or visit the website:

www.ramblers-herts-northmiddlesex.org.uk

Click on ‘Groups’ and then on ‘Royston’ to find full details

book. The event marks the launch of the Year 4 Book Club which some of our children will take part in, working with students from Freman College.

Key Stage 1 are visiting the Botanical Gardens as part of their work on ‘Rainforests’. The Nursery and Oak classes are going to Standalone Farm in Letchworth on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th May as part of their work on ‘Our Planet’. The children will see a wide range of farm animals and they will get the chance to watch a cow being milked.

On May 21st the Eco-Action Team are holding a healthy packed lunch event. Each teacher will look at the lunch boxes for the children in their class and choose one that looks the ‘healthiest’ and where food is packed in the most eco-friendly way. The winner will get a small prize. Last time we ran this event it proved to be very popular and a great way to get the children thinking about what they eat and how they prepare their food.

If you would like to know more about our school please visit our website or contact the school on 01763 271717.

Kathy Willett, Head Teacher

http://www.ramblers-herts-northmiddlesex.org.uk

36

3rd Tuesday, 18 June

Contact Carol McKimmie

Walking Group (2 hours plus) 01763 271054

9:50am –12:00noon

Last Thursday 8pm Contact Dave Austin

Wine Appreciation 01763 272066 (Waiting list)

FULL

4th Wednesday, 26 June Contact Hilary Curtis

Shorter walks (1 hour plus) 01763 272323 (Waiting list)

10:30am TBA

Individual sessions Weds Contact Colin Gibbons

Family History 01763 271398

In Buntingford

3rd Thursday, 20 June Contact Alan Rumble

Computers (all levels) £3 01920 823608

2:00–4:00pm Seth Ward Community Centre

2nd Friday, 14 June Contact Jeremy Burr

Digital photography £2 01920 823209

2:00–4:00pm URCH [email protected]

2nd & 4th Tues, 11 & 25 June Christine Jeffries

Singing for Pleasure 01763 273466

2:00–4:00pm Wyddial

Every Tuesday Contact Alan Smith

Bridge 01763 287657 (Waiting list)

10.00am–12.00noon Various Homes

Varies, contact Evelyn Smith Social Outings 01763 272241

Varies

Mondays Contact Dave Austin

Keep Fit £2 01763 272066 (Waiting list)

10:00–11:30am Seth Ward Community Centre

Last Wednesday, 26 June Contact Anne Austin

Book Club 01763 272066 (Waiting list)

2:30pm Fairfield

Every Friday (not school hols) Contact Rosemary Poulton

Pilates: £33 for 6 sessions or £6.50 per session 01763 271598


Last Tues, 25 June, Mike Strollers 01763 272594 2:30 TBA

Every Wednesday Contact Dave Austin

Table Tennis £2 01763 272066


Every Monday Contact Vidyut Sharma

Yogic breathing £5 01763 271779

10:00–11:30am Monks Walk

Contact Ron Brighten Quizzes 01763 273175

Teams for local quizzes, as they are advertised

Contact Anne Smith Wednesday lunches 01763 271565

TBA

Contact Jean Cook 01763 271495

Discovering London coach trips, about every 3 months

Please phone to go on list

Contact Michael 01763 274010

Natter Group Phone, Skype, Text, Email or meet up for a coffee

Contact Jean Devenish 01763 271783

Theatre Group Visiting local theatres etc. with occasional London trips

Contact Jean Devenish 01763 271783

Cycling Social cycling & meal; phone for details

At our next meeting on Monday 10

th June – at 2pm,

Seth Ward CC, SG9 9SG – Janet Naylor will be entertaining us with a talk

on ‘Funny Ladies’, visitors £2. Our next social afternoon will be on Monday June 24

th, 2–3.30pm, same venue, open to all. Hope to see you there.

Val Reedman 01763 272135 or Dave Austin 01763 272066

www.buntingfordu3a.co.uk

http://www.buntingfordu3a.co.uk

37

Bramble Hill Children’s Centre is based in

Mill Close in Buntingford and our main

purpose is to offer access to services for

children under 5 and their families.

We are running a Family First Aid course for parents and carers on Wednesday 19th June, 7pm–9pm, at Seth Ward Community Centre in Buntingford. Booking is essential as places are limited. £5 per person.

Are you looking for good quality children’s clothes and toys at reasonable prices? Do you need to clear some valuable space and make some money? Then come along to our Children’s Nearly New Sale on Saturday 6th July, 10am–12noon, at Seth Ward Community Centre, Luynes Rise, Buntingford. Tables for sellers are £5 and sellers keep all of their proceeds. There is a 50p entrance fee for buyers. Hot and cold drinks, cakes and biscuits will be available to buy on the day. Please call us if you would like to book a table.

For details of our Summer Holiday Activities, which will be happening between Monday 29th July and Friday 23rd August, please check our website after 24th June or give us a call.

www.bramblehillchildrenscentre.org.uk

We now have a Bramble Hill Facebook page. Search for ‘Bramble Hill’ on Facebook and ‘like’ the page to receive updates and information from the centre.

If you would like to be included on our mailing list and receive regular updates from the Children’s Centre please call us on 01763 273008 or email us at:

[email protected]

We look forward to seeing you

Well Stone Me!!!

Riven or weathered, stone or slate?

Bricks or sleepers – what’s our fate?

We thought would be easy to make our choice,

but it seems paving slabs have more than one voice.

Having decided that slate was our baby,

do they have our size? Yes they do! … oh well, maybe.

Looking online was a whole lot cheaper,

but only made our confusion deeper.

Then finally, today, it’s all come together.

We’ve secured a good deal – let’s just pray for good weather!!

Teresa Bonner

http://www.bramblehillchildrenscentre.org.uk/


38

ENTERTAINMENT FOR JUNEENTERTAINMENT FOR JUNEENTERTAINMENT FOR JUNE 1st - FANCY DRESS DISCO, SUMMER HOLIDAY THEME 8th - NO ENTERTAINMENT - free jukebox, pool and snooker 15th - NYTE FLYTE 22nd - PHASE 2 29th - NO ENTERTAINMENT - free jukebox, pool and snooker

MEMBERS FREE, GUESTS £1 WHEN ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED or £4 on Special Nights.

New Members always welcome and any of you lapsed members are welcome to rejoin at anytime. Membership just £12 per year.

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR PAGE ON FACEBOOK.

Bunt ingford Socia l ClubBunt ingford Socia l ClubBunt ingford Socia l Club C I U affiliated

6 Church Street, Buntingford, Herts. SG9 9AS

Tel: 01763 271889 www.thebuntingfordsocialclub.co.uk

SPONSORS OF BUNTINGFORD CRICKET CLUB

We are happy to announce that we have donated £500 to BASH

and £700 to Buntingford Cricket Club for help with equipment

for the Colts. The money was raised in our raffles.

* EVERY MONDAY BIG CASH BINGO * Guaranteed £150 snowball prize. ALL WELCOME. Eyes Down 8:00pm

ALL MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS SHOWN (times permitting)

AND WE SELL THE

CHEAPEST PINT IN

BUNTINGFORD! HAPPY HOUR

EVERY DAY 5:30 TO 6:30PM

LOOK OUT FOR OPENMIC NIGHTS,

RACE NIGHTS, QUIZZES, GOLF

DAYS AND DARTS TOURNAMENTS

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

Friday 7th JUNE

Committee V Cricket Club

pub games

SUNDAY 23rd JUNE 7pm to 9pm - PA provided

Just come and enjoy

39

The views expressed in the letters and articles in the Buntingford

Journal are not necessarily those of the editor.

BELOW IS THE LATEST IN AN OCCASIONAL SERIES OF ARTICLES DISCUSSING LEGAL

ISSUES THAT AFFECT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, PROVIDED BY CURWENS, A LOCAL FIRM

OF SOLICITORS WITH OFFICES IN ROYSTON, HODDESDON AND ENFIELD.

Who owns your home? (Part 2)

ARE YOU A COMMON LAW SPOUSE? Many unmarried couples are under a dangerous misapprehension about how English law protects cohabitees. They believe that after a certain number of years of cohabiting they are ‘common law husband and wife’ and therefore on separation they would be entitled to a shared in the property they live in – even if it is not held in their name.

Whilst there have been consultations to decide if the law should protect unmarried partners in some form, no decision has been made to date. We are therefore left with a very unsatisfactory situation.

If you live in a home which is registered at HM Land Registry in your partner’s sole name, it could be very difficult for you to prove you have any right to remain living in that property if the relationship ended and/or that you have any financial interest in that property.

If you split from your partner, you would not be entitled to any ongoing financial support (e.g. maintenance payments) from them, even if they have supported you financially for years during your relationship.

If you have children together, there would be financial claims you could make on behalf of the children to ensure they have a secure home and your partner pays child maintenance. However, this may be temporary housing so that once the children become independent you lose the use of it.

Of course one option is to persuade your partner to marry you, but there is an alternative. You could agree terms for a simple Deed of Trust or Cohabitation Agreement , which could set out what would happen if you ever separated and clarify what would happen to the ‘home’ you share.

Such documents can save a lot of money and heartache at a later date if unfortunately the relationship comes to an end.

Please note: We would advise anyone affected by issues discussed here to take

independent legal advice on their personal situation before taking any action.

If you would like more information on this, or any other, area of law, please

contact me at [email protected]

(Part 1 of this article was published in the April 2013 issue of the Journal.)


40

Hello there, I’m Geoffrey Cheeseman – renowned thespian, raconteur and ‘Meister of the bon mot’ (how very cosmopolitan!). Some of you will remember me as the host for the murder mystery, A Show to Die For, back in 2006. This month I’ve stepped into Gladys Aman’s shoes as your Drama Correspondent. I understand that Gladys is taking a break and the opportunity to visit one those Eastern European cosmetic surgery clinics. Looking at her picture in last month’s Journal, I’d say that it’s fair to assume that she will gone for some time! I’d liken the surgeon’s prospective challenge to a major rebuild (with significant under-pinning) rather than modest renovation, if you get my drift?

I’ve been busy, having just finished a successful summer run at the Old Vic, to great critical acclaim. In truth, this meant serving behind the bar at the

establishment that the locals call the Victory pub in Portsmouth. Stage roles are so very hard to come by these days. Still, the punters seemed to love me. Talent will out, as Sir Larry used to say. But now, without more ado, on to what I am being paid for…

What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behaviour of their children? A calm and rational debate between grown-ups about the need

to teach kids how to behave properly? Or a hysterical night of name-calling, tantrums and tears before bedtime? Boys will be boys, but adults are usually worse – much worse.

Come and find out at ‘God Of Carnage’ by Yasmina Reza, an Olivier and Tony award-winning play that is the next production from BDS on:

13th, 14th, 20th and 21st September 2013

Details at: www.buntingforddrama.org

During a recent visit to rehearsals I was able to pass on some of my considerable insights to the cast of four:

Sophia Mitchell (above left) Erica Jocelyn (above right)

Andrew Coxall (left) Paul Russell (right)

Your drama correspondent

http://www.buntingforddrama.org/

41

Cambridge Gliding Centre Open Day The role of editor of the Journal doesn’t bring that many perks with it, but a few weeks ago I was offered a real treat. I was invited as a ‘member of the press’ to go along to an Open Day at Cambridge Gliding Centre. Never having been up in a glider before, it didn’t take me long to accept their kind offer, and off I went one fine but very windy day in April.

The gliding centre is at Gransden Lodge Airfield near Longstowe, just off the A1198, about halfway between Royston and Huntingdon. The visit kicked off with a presentation by club chairman, Paul Ruskin, covering a brief history of gliding itself as well as of the club. Most early glider development took place in Germany, because the nation was not allowed powered aircraft in the wake of World War One. A high plateau region called the Wasserkuppe became the centre of flying experiments and competitions, as a golden age of unpowered flight took off in the 1920s. The Cambridge Gliding Club goes back to 1935 and has been at Gransden, an old World War Two airfield, since 1991.

Learning to fly a glider is not much different to a powered plane – a glider has the same controls. Although you might imagine that wind is desirable, high winds are not ideal because gliders stay aloft by soaring and for that they need the warm rising air currents known as thermals. Apparently it’s not too difficult learning to take off and land, the challenge that keeps pilots going back up is mastering the art of soaring on thermals.

My trip into the air was with Andrew from Much Hadham. First I was strapped into a parachute harness, then into the front seat of the two-seater glider and given a rundown of the controls. A rope was attached from a small plane which towed us up to 2000m. It was when Andrew let me have a go that I wished I’d tried the simulator before the real thing! The joystick is so sensitive, the merest touch seemed to plunge us into a dive. But Andrew wasn’t fazed, as he calmly pointed out landmarks. And all too soon, we were landing – which was very smooth indeed.

Gliding is a sport, not a means of transport, and a very enjoyable one. The Cambridge Club has around 200 members but would like more and offers a range of lessons, courses and competitions, including specially priced cadet training for young people. Last year Guy Bush from Buntingford took his first solo flight at Gransden on his 16th birthday. Details of all courses are on their website. During his talk, Paul assured us that gliding is not as expensive a hobby as you might imagine – cheaper than keeping a pony, he said, and it sounded like he spoke from experience! So if you feel like a new adventure why not give it a whirl?

Christine Noble

Gransden Lodge Airfield, Longstowe Road, Little Gransden, Beds SG19 3EB

Tel: 01767 677077 www.glide.co.uk

The pre-flight briefing: several club members made themselves and their planes available for

the day to take visitors up for test flights.

Photo courtesy of David Jokinen

42

You say Emo, I say Emu ‘What do you know about Emos?’ I dropped this into a pause in the conversation between mouthfulls of cake, whilst sitting with Chicken Cleggy watching his new stock pecking around his feet. ‘Emus?’, he said. ‘I don’t think I have enough room in the chicken coup, those birds are a bit big aren’t they Compo?’

‘No, Emos, not Emus. I’ve been reading this article where it says Emos were being put on a specific list, along with a whole host of other so-called minority groups and as such attacks, verbal or physical, can be recorded as special crimes? As a person who abhores violence and persecution of anybody unless they get between me and my dinner, I was wondering as to the obvious omission on the list of a growing minority group, us oldies. When is it our turn?’

‘What are you suggesting Compo?’

‘Well, I was thinking Clegg …’ ‘That’s dangerous, Compo’, he stopped stroking a particularly comely Rhode Island Red. ‘You know what thinking does to you!’

‘Well, I was thinking ...’ I insisted (I do this when the mood takes me – sometimes I sits and thinks, and other times I just sits) ‘… as we are now almost a minority group, we could be up for a lot of benefits, even help from specially trained people to inform us of our rights and “entitlements” and we could stop people “dissing” us!’

‘I don’t think anyone has disinfected me for a while Compo, well not since that incident with the chicken pellets.’

‘No, not disinfected, disrespected! You know like those blokes with their caps on back to front and trousers down round their backsides. According to them, they are always being “dissed” and they can get away with almost anything, judging by the way the courts deal with them.’ Pressing my case further. ‘They get special people to look after their needs and all sorts of excuses for being “different”.’

‘You’ve always been different, Compo. Who else would walk around dressed like you?’

‘It’s a gift, Cleggy! It’s a gift.’

‘What would be our demands then, Compo?’

‘Well for a start, some of those idiots in government could be reminded as to who has built up this country in the last 60 odd years. And created the best engineering, music, art and design ever.’

‘And egg production, don’t forget that Compo. But these Emus – what are they like and why are they called Emus?’

‘How many more times, Cleggy? Emos! Apparently its stands for Emotional,’ I went on. ‘Well apparently they have very thin legs, spikey hair and a vacant expression.’

‘Yea, that’s Emus for you. So it’s a sort of young person’s thing, like Goths and Punks, a bit like us way back when, you know Mods, Rockers and then them there Hippies. But we didn’t have special laws to look after us did we?’

‘Far from it, the cops used to pick on us! And I remember my old mum said she thought I looked like a gangster when I went out.’

‘Very perceptive, your mum’, Cleggy mused, looking knowingly at the hen. At this point the hen on Cleggy’s lap gave me a strange quizzical look, which was a bit disconcerting.

We sat for a while contemplating what this meant for the future of the country, as one does, whilst strains of Wonderful Land drifted from the Dansette outside the hen house.

43

I couldn’t help but notice that three bantams were doing an impromptu Shadows walk in time to the music. ‘Improves the egg laying’, Cleggy interjected reading my thoughts.

He went on: ‘Its not fair you know, these people get all these special arrangements and we get nothing. Do you know I got turned down by the EU for a hill farming subsidy?’

‘But your place is only feet off the road Cleggy.’

‘In the pamphlet they didn’t state how high the hill had to be!’

‘That’s the way it is now, everyone has an angle but the ones who built this country up.’

‘Yes, Compo, things were very different way back when. Remember?’ Cleggy went on.

‘Sure do, we left school at 15 and got a job or an apprenticeship, went to night school three nights a week, no credit cards. Worked up to 66 hours a week, saved up for motorbike, guitar and amp on HP (if your dad would sign for it). Meet a girl, save to get married and the 25% for house deposit. Wait another 5 years to start a family, still going to college or day release which only paid you if you passed! Mortgage rate at 15%. Retire

after 50 years work at 65 if you can afford it. Yea, we had it easy.’

‘Not like today then?’

‘No these Emus, sorry Emos, have got it really tough! Leave school at 18, have a gap year, go to Uni and run up £40k loan, leave at 21 or have to stay on till 23 before looking for job. Run up credit card bill, get mum and dad to cough up for essentials like widescreen TV for bedroom. Wander off round the world to “find themselves”, don’t “find themselves”, come home, have another look for job, find one at 25 and start work! “You mean I have start at eight?” “It’s doing my head in!”

‘Mortgage deposit 10%, mortgage at 5%. Have couple of kids, with different “partners”, then get married: “Can’t do it on less than £30 grand mum and dad.” Get working tax credits and assorted benefits: “It’s impossible to live on £500 a week!!” “Can you have the kids mum? I need a ‘me’ day.” “I couldn’t get through a day without a bottle of wine at night?” Get fed up, get divorced! Meet new “soul mate, my rock, my everything!” Get tattoo, maybe a piercing, have civil partnership (“same sex partnership is so this year”) ...

‘Maybe work 40 years, with time off for maternity, paternity, gender alignment, smoke breaks, dependent relative leave, retraining, focus groups, counselling and must-have foreign holidays. Get made redundant, get taken back on as consultant, get bigger tele, new car, index-linked pension. Take another year off for world trip to realign your chakras

and “find yourself”, still don’t find yourself. Might have to work till 70 Agghhh!!’

‘Tough, really tough’, Cleggy mused. With that the hen jumped down and wandered off.

‘Any more of that sponge cake left Cleggy?’

‘Funny old world isn’t it Compo?’

‘Yes mate, things ain’t what they used to be!’ Vyse

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B A L AB A L AB A L A Bunt ingford Act ion for the Less Able

Registered Charity No. 1094426

To book a seat or for more information: Phone 01763 273623 or 01763 271708

Minibus trips for June 2013

JUNE Thurs 6th

Fri 7th

Sat 8th

Tues 11th

Thurs 13th

Fri 14th

Tues 18th

Thurs 20th

Mon 24th

Thurs 27th

Fri 28th

JULY Thurs 4th

AUGUST Sat 31st

9:30–12ish

10:30–3pm

2:30pm

10:30–2:30

9:30–12ish

2:30–4:30pm

10:30–3pm

9:30–12ish

9:45–3pm

9:30–12ish

10am–2:45

9:30–12ish

2:30pm

Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre – Market Day

Brookfield Centre – Boots, M&S, Argos, Tesco, Next etc.

‘Whistle Down the Wind’ at Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage

Hitchin – Market Day

Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford

Pearce’s Farm Shop & Café

Welwyn Garden City – John Lewis, M&S, etc.


Bury St. Edmund’s – Historic town, shops

Tesco at Bishop’s Stortford

Scotsdales Garden Centre & much more


‘Fame’, the Musical, at Gordon Craig

£4

£6

£14 + Bus £4

£5.50

£4

£3

£6

£4

£14

£4

£7

£4

£18 + Bus £4

B.A.L.A.

COFFEE MORNING at Benson Hall, Buntingford

Wednesday 19th June

10:30 to 12:00noon

Cakes / Bric-a-Brac / Books / Raffle / Marmalade

Proceeds for the B.A.L.A. MINIBUS

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B U N T I N G F O R D W . I .B U N T I N G F O R D W . I .B U N T I N G F O R D W . I . We held our Annual Meeting in May and had a record number of 13 nominations for the new Committee! Veronica Easley was re-appointed as our President for the coming year.

This past year has been a good one for Buntingford W.I. and we have recruited several new members. We have enjoyed a variety of speakers at our meetings, games and keep fit mornings, our Christmas Lunch and a group outing to Henley-on-Thames.

Joyce Spackman from the Hertfordshire Federation came along to conduct our Annual Meeting and also talk us through the Resolution which will be discussed at the National AGM in June. The resolution relates to the decline of High Streets and Town Centres, but the general feeling was that this is not a new problem and members did not think that the W.I. could have much influence, particularly as Mary Portas has already covered this subject quite extensively.

Joyce told us that she has been to several Institutes in Hertfordshire but enjoys visiting Buntingford W.I. because of its warm village atmosphere. If you want to sample this for yourself, come along to one of our meetings – you would be most welcome.

At our May meeting we held a bring-and-buy plant sale which made a nice profit.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 13th June at 7.45pm at the United Reformed Church Hall when Pamela Sanderson will be coming along from The Old Bailey. Our meeting will become a mock Court and the Jury will be appointed on the night!

If you would like more information about Buntingford W.I., please telephone Pat Webb on 01763 271305.

Val Hume

Barkway Village Market 22nd June, 10am to 4pm

The origins of Barkway Market can be traced back to 1270.

Re-established as an annual event in 1977, the Barkway Market typically attracts around 4,000 visitors from miles around.

Set in the grounds of one of Barkway’s attractive old houses.

To book your stall, telephone 01763 849073 or email

[email protected]

Or just come along on the day to enjoy a unique Market that has now become a Hertfordshire tradition in its own right.


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During May we reached the climax of the season – I say climax, but the reality was far from the case. In fact the season just petered out as both of our County League sides did not play their last two matches of the season.

The League, in its infinite wisdom, decided to award a 1-1 result for the Reserves’ last two games without a ball being kicked, a bitter disappointment for the team, having been at the wrong end of numerous postponements throughout the season. The First Team’s penultimate match, on FA Cup Final day, failed to materialise when St Peters (Colney Heath) informed us just an hour before kick-off that they could not field a team. And then, just to deflate the side even more, the League inexplicably awarded a 0-0 draw for our final fixture with Evergreen four days before the game was due to be played!

Whilst I appreciate that due to the extended winter weather it has been difficult for the Herts Senior County League to keep the season on track, I do find it disappointing that they seem to make the rules up as they go along. And I find it even more frustrating when they just do these things without consultation or explanation. I have a feeling that their Annual General meeting will be a lively affair!

Despite the frustrations, the season has gone well. The First Team finished 6th in Senior Division One. With a little more good fortune we could have reached the top four, but we were unlikely to break into the top three which consisted of new sides, Aslan and Hatfield RBL, accompanied by a rejuvenated Bedmond Sports & Social Club. Our results against those three say it all – we gained just 1 point (against Bedmond), but lost by just one goal in three of the five defeats, evidence that we need to improve a little more to push for honours. But I am confident that we will be able to do just that next season.

The Reserves is a young side. It is the first time many of them have played at this level and I must say they have performed exceptionally well. Their enthusiasm on the pitch is great to see. They finished a creditable 3rd in Reserve Section Division Two, and although the division finished up with just six teams (three dropped out during the season) the commitment shown by our squad has been superb. I truly believe that if we can keep these players together for the 2013/14 season they will begin to show their full potential.

It’s hard to believe that we have been back in the County League for 10 years; we have had our difficulties, but the fact that we have remained competitive says a lot for the club and everyone involved. The Veterans have completed what I believe is their 11th season! With 12 wins, 12 defeats and 3 draws, it could be described as ‘fair to middling’, but the team suffered an unusually high level of injuries, culminating with Chris Englishby breaking his collar bone in two places. We all wish him a speedy recovery. The odd thing about the Vets’ season was that they beat teams they expected to find difficult, and lost to the sides they should have beaten. There is a lesson there, but I’m not sure what it is!

So, with the 2012/13 campaign now complete, all that remains is for me to thank all of our players, my committee (who have been great this year), our sponsors and advertisers, and the staff at The Bury for coming together to give us yet another season of football. And, of course, a special thank you to managers Laurence Salmon, Martin Cox and Gary Cropper/Chris Englishby for pulling everything together for match days – well done guys!

Chris Thurgill, Chairman, Buntingford Town FC

BUNTINGFORD TOWN FC w w w . b u n t i n g f o r d t o w n f c . c o m

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Cromer Windmill – Replacement of Ladder and Fantail

Cromer Windmill is the sole remaining windmill in Hertfordshire, and was painstakingly restored over a period of thirty years by the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. The initial work in 1968/9 included the provision of a new ladder and fantail (the small windmill above the ladder, which used to turn the Mill itself to face the wind). These are now 45 years old and nearing the end of their lives. Apart from the deteriorating appearance, replacement is necessary on safety grounds for the Mill to continue to be open to visitors. The cost will be around £20,000, and although grants are available to assist with this, the Trust needs expressions of local support in order for an application to succeed.

Accordingly, I am asking if you will please either write a short letter in your own words, or alternatively complete and return the questionnaire.

Miss Dorothy Abel Smith Chairman, Hertfordshire

Building Preservation Trust (HBPT)

Questionnaire Individual name…………………………....................................................

Organisation name…………………………..............................................(if applicable)

Age (please circle) 0-18 19-35 36-45 45-60 over 60

Unless the ladder and fantail of Cromer Windmill are replaced imminently the Mill

will have to be closed to visitors, and will progressively deteriorate.

YES NO

1. Do you agree that Cromer Windmill is an important historical feature in the landscape of our area?

2. Do you think it important that Hertfordshire’s only surviving windmill should be maintained in good condition to exemplify the 800 years of windmills in Ardeley parish?

3. Do you think it important that the Mill continues to be accessible to visitors, including children, to demonstrate how the raw material for the bread of life was obtained for centuries?

Any other comments:……………………………………………………………………………..…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thank you for your help. Please send your letter or form, by the end of

June, to Anne Haworth, HBPT, The Castle, Hertford SG14 IHR

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The Buntingford Journal is published by, but is editorially

independent of, the Buntingford Civic Society.

ALL PROCEEDS FROM BUNTS FEST GO TO HERTS AIR AMBULANCE & MILLFIELD FIRST AND NURSERY SCHOOL

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